1 Corinthians 7:37
in 1 Corinthians 7But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.
KJV
Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 7
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Nevertheless - But. The apostle in this verse states some instances where it would not be proper to give a daughter in marriage; and the verse is a kind of summing up of all that be had said on the subject. That standeth steadfast in his heart ... - Most commentators have understood this of the father of the virgin, and suppose that it refers to his purpose of keeping her from the marriage connection.
This site's exposition
However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed
on 1 Corinthians 7:36-38
Two readings stand: a father giving his daughter in marriage, or a man deciding whether to marry his betrothed. Either way he is not sinning, and the close says he who marries does well and he who does not does even better.
This site's exposition
firmly established in his heart
The verse sets out four conditions, a settled heart, freedom from pressure, control of the will, and a firm decision. Theophylact admires the steadiness Paul describes.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
It is clear from this that someone who has been overcome by apparent impropriety, even if married, is not yet firmly established in the work of the Lord.
But for him who of his own free will and purpose decides to preserve his flesh in virgin purity, "having no necessity"
The Medieval Church1 voice
Notice how he first marvels at the one who keeps his virgin: he calls him firm and steadfast and one who acts with deliberation; for he says, "standing firm in his heart." So then, the one who gives his virgin in marriage is not firm. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Nevertheless, he that standeth steadfast in his heart,....
The words behind it
31 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὃς | hos | He who | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἕστηκεν | hesteken | has stood | G2476 → | 153 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καρδίᾳ | kardia | heart | G2588 → | 156 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἑδραῖος | hedraios | firm | G1476 → | |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἔχων | echon | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἀνάγκην, | anagken | necessity, | G318 → | 17 times |
| ἐξουσίαν | exousian | authority | G1849 → | 102 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἔχει | echei | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| περὶ | peri | over | G4012 → | 332 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰδίου | idiou | own | G2398 → | 114 times |
| θελήματος, | thelematos | will, | G2307 → | 62 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| κέκρικεν | kekriken | has judged | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰδίᾳ | idia | own | G2398 → | 114 times |
| καρδίᾳ | kardia | heart | G2588 → | 156 times |
| τηρεῖν | terein | to keep | G5083 → | |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑαυτοῦ | he'autou | his own | G1438 → | 322 times |
| παρθένον, | parthenon | virgin, | G3933 → | 15 times |
| καλῶς | kalos | well | G2573 → | 35 times |
| ποιήσει. | poiesei | he will do. | G4160 → | 569 times |
ὃςHe who
hosG3739 →1405 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἕστηκενhas stood
hestekenG2476 →153 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
καρδίᾳheart
kardiaG2588 →156 times
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἑδραῖοςfirm
hedraiosG1476 →
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἔχωνhaving
echonG2192 →707 times
ἀνάγκην,necessity,
anagkenG318 →17 times
ἐξουσίανauthority
exousianG1849 →102 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἔχειhaving
echeiG2192 →707 times
περὶover
periG4012 →332 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
ἰδίουown
idiouG2398 →114 times
θελήματος,will,
thelematosG2307 →62 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
κέκρικενhas judged
kekrikenG2919 →114 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἰδίᾳown
idiaG2398 →114 times
καρδίᾳheart
kardiaG2588 →156 times
τηρεῖνto keep
tereinG5083 →
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἑαυτοῦhis own
he'autouG1438 →322 times
παρθένον,virgin,
parthenonG3933 →15 times
καλῶςwell
kalosG2573 →35 times
ποιήσει.he will do.
poieseiG4160 →569 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Methodius of Olympus, Methodius Discourse III. Thaleia; Oecumenius, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.